Author: Hamza Rufai

AS the National Assembly resumes plenary on Tuesday (today) following its Easter recess, lawmakers are returning to a politically charged and forward-looking legislative calendar, with constitutional amendments, a growing wave of defections, and worsening insecurity expected to shape proceedings in the coming weeks. News Point Nigeria reports that the resumption comes amid mounting pressure on the legislature to go beyond routine lawmaking and deliver reforms capable of redefining governance ahead of the 2027 general elections. At the top of the agenda is the amendment of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a process that has lingered despite its…

THE Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the unconditional release of Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir Zaria and awarded him a total sum of N5 million as damages for the violation of his fundamental human rights by security agencies and a commercial bank. News Point Nigeria reports that in a judgment delivered on Monday, Justice Peter O. Lifu held that the prolonged detention of the cleric without a valid court order amounted to a breach of his rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement, as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and…

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be holding its first National Executive Committee meeting (NEC) at the party’s headquarters, Wadata Plaza, after police unsealed the secretariat last week. News Point Nigeria reports that the PDP secretariat was sealed in November last year after a violent clash between the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee of the party and the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led caretaker committee, who were both laying claims to the party’s leadership. However, an Appeal Court judgment in March invalidated the Ibadan convention that produced the Turaki-led PDP leadership, a judgment the Abdulrahman-led PDP, which is heavily backed by the FCT…

THE Federal Ministry of Finance has dismissed recent media reports and commentaries alleging hidden spending and diversion of federation revenue, stating that such interpretations misrepresent the findings of the latest Nigeria Development Update by the World Bank. In a detailed clarification sent to News Point Nigeria by the Minister of State for Finance,  Taiwo Oyedele, he said their attention had been drawn to claims suggesting that a significant portion of federation earnings was being “diverted” or constituted “hidden spending,” describing such assertions as inaccurate and based on a misunderstanding of Nigeria’s fiscal system. According to the ministry, these interpretations distort…

THE Presidency on Thursday declared that the 2027 presidential ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is “dead before arrival,” following what it described as a poor showing during his recent television interview. News Point Nigeria reports that the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, in a post on his verified X handle, @SundayDareSD, said the outing exposed a lack of vision, coherence and readiness for leadership at the highest level. “Atiku Abubakar’s latest television outing didn’t cover him in glory, it was a disaster, an unraveling broadcast in real time,” Dare wrote. According…

GOVERNOR Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has named Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada as his preferred successor ahead of the 2027 governorship race, describing him as a true embodiment of the “Muje Maha” spirit that has characterised his administration’s philosophy of governance and political inclusiveness. The disclosure was made in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Thursday by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Ali Abare, who said the announcement came during a meeting with political appointees and heads of government agencies at the Government House in Lafia. According to the statement, Governor Sule used the occasion to…

NIGERIA’s headline inflation rate rose to 15.38% in March 2026, reflecting a modest increase from the 15.06% recorded in February. News Point Nigeria reports that this is according to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased to 135.4 in March 2026, reflecting a 5.4-point increase from the preceding month (130.0). In March 2026, the headline inflation rate rose to 15.38%, up from 15.06% in February 2026 and stood 27.35% in the same month of the preceding year (March 2025). Looking at the movement, the March 2026 headline inflation rate showed an…

THE Federal Government has revealed that 226 local government areas in 33 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory fall within the high flood risk areas identified in 2026. News Point Nigeria reports that the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, stated this on Wednesday during the public presentation of the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency at the State Banquet Hall of the Aso Villa, Abuja. “Fourteen thousand, one hundred and eighteen communities in 266 local government areas in 33 States and the FCT fall within the high flood risk areas.…

THE Federal Government has described the recent airstrike in the Jilli axis of Gubio Local Government Area, Borno State, as a precision counter-terrorism operation under Operation HADIN KAI carried out by the Nigerian Air Force. It insisted that the operation was not indiscriminate, stressing that the area had long been designated a high-risk zone with security advisories restricting civilian movement. This was contained in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the Minister of Information and National Orientation on Tuesday, which provided an official account of the airstrike that reportedly resulted in some civilian casualties. According to the statement,…

THE African Democratic Congress concluded its national convention on Tuesday in Abuja, with delegates overwhelmingly voting to amend the party’s constitution. News Point Nigeria reports that at the end of voting, the Chairman of the ADC Electoral Sub-Committee and former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, announced the result. He said a total of 1,576 delegates were accredited, while 11 votes were voided. A total of 1,471 delegates voted “yes” to amend the constitution, representing 94 per cent. “Distinguished delegates, by virtue of this result announced, it means that the constitution of the African Democratic Congress has today been duly…

FORMER Vice President and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of being used as a tool to undermine democracy in Nigeria. News Point Nigeria reports that Atiku made the allegation while speaking at the party’s national convention held at the Rainbow Event Centre in Abuja, where party members and stakeholders gathered despite ongoing tensions with the electoral body. In his remarks, the former vice president directly criticised the Chairman of INEC, Joash Amupitan, accusing him of engaging in alleged “illegalities” and compromising the neutrality expected of the commission. “I…

SECURITY has been beefed up in and around Rainbow Event Centre, venue of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) national convention holding in Abuja. News Point Nigeria reports that 3,000 delegates are expected to participate in the election of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to pilot the affairs of the party for the next four years The personnel of Nigeria Police and Department of State Services (DSS) manned the main entrance to the venue, conducting thorough security checks on delegates before allowing them access. Security patrol vehicles were also stationed at strategic locations, manned by security operatives. Journalists were also…

SENATOR representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has said Nigeria’s lingering insecurity could be decisively tackled within six months if the Federal Government demonstrates sufficient commitment. Ndume stated this on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme monitored by News Point Nigeria, where he expressed concern over the recent escalation of violence, particularly in the North-East. The lawmaker stressed that beyond complaints, what is required is decisive action and political will. “It is not about complaining. It is not about asking somebody like me as a senator to say why these things. I always believe that…

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced a new venue for its national convention scheduled to hold in Abuja on Tuesday, April 14. News Point Nigeria reports that earlier on Monday, the ADC said it was denied access to both Eagle Square and the Moshood Abiola National Stadium for its convention. The opposition party said it had written to the office of Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister, seeking permission to use Eagle Square, but although the letter was acknowledged, no official response had been received. But in another statement, the ADC said the national convention will take place at the…

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) caucus in the House of Representatives has called for the prosecution and removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over allegations of partisanship and compromised neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections. News Point Nigeria reports that the caucus made its position known following its inaugural meeting held on Sunday, April 12, 2026, where members reviewed recent political developments and expressed deep concern about the credibility of the electoral umpire. In a strongly worded resolution issued after the meeting, the lawmakers accused Prof. Amupitan of actions and statements…

NIGERIA’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered an immediate asset freeze of the 13 new alleged terrorism-linked entities across the capital market. News Point Nigeria reports that a directive titled ‘Commission’s sweeping compliance directive issued to capital market operators’, noted that the move was after the 10 individuals and three entities were designated and blacklisted on the Nigeria Sanctions List by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee. The Commission anchored its directive on provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which mandates the immediate freezing of all funds, assets, and economic resources linked to the named persons and organisations…

THE Northern Youth Advancement Coalition (NYAC) has congratulated Engr. Jibril S Danpullo on his marriage to his heartthrob, Ikram Atiku Bagudu, daughter of the Minister of Budget an d National Planning as well as former Kebbi State governor, Atiku Bagudu. The wedding ceremony, which took place on Sunday, April 12, 2026, has continued to attract goodwill messages from across the country, particularly from youth-focused organisations and stakeholders who have closely followed the groom’s contributions to youth development in Northern Nigeria. In a joint statement issued late on Sunday, the Chairman of NYAC, Ibrahim Muktar Aliyu, Ph.D, and the Secretary, Sani…

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that members aspiring to contest its 2027 presidential primary will pay a total of N100 million for nomination, comprising N30 million for the expression of interest form and N70 million for the nomination form. News Point Nigeria reports that in the same structure, governorship aspirants are to pay N10 million for the expression of interest form and N40 million for the nomination form as Nigeria moves towards the 2027 general elections. The party disclosed this in a two-page document outlining the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, signed on…

THE Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to immediately withdraw and deactivate passports of Nigerians who have renounced their citizenship but still carry the documents. A statement to News Point Nigeria by Special Adviser, Media to the Minister of Interior, Alao Babatunde, however, clarified that the directive applied only to Nigerians whose requests for renunciation have been formally approved by President Bola Tinubu. The Minister maintained that the Ministry of Interior, saddled with the responsibility of citizenship integrity, derives the power from the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of Section 29 of the…

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vowed to contest the 2027 general election under its own platform, despite the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to discontinue recognising the party’s leadership over a court order. News Point Nigeria reports that appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi expressed confidence that the opposition party will overcome all hurdles ahead. “One thing I can guarantee is that we will contest the 2027 election on the ADC platform,” Abdullahi said. “Regardless of what has happened in Nigeria, we still have confidence in the…